During the Shah's regime Baha'i enjoyed prominent social status, including advanced military posts and involvement in governmental affairs.

The return of the Shah to power, following Mossadeq’s brief rule, empowered secular elements of Iranian society. Iranian society enjoyed many of the features of western society including theater, restaurants, entertainment centers, which operated as central aspects of the citizens’ lifestyle. During this period, the Jewish community, although a small minority, enjoyed substantial influence. In addition, the Baha’i community, a slightly larger minority, enjoyed prominent social status, including advanced military posts and involvement in governmental affairs. The Baha’i community’s loyalty to the Shah was complete, and they enjoyed a wide a variety of governmental positions.

(Iran, Israel, and the “Shi’ite Crescent” Authors: Uzi Rabi and Ronen A. Cohen, November, 2008)

https://israel.fes.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Iran_Israel_Shiite_Crescent_engl.pdf

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1000’s and 1000’s of Indigenous peoples, across America’s have stepped away from the Faith due to Persian Baha'is

Phil Lane Jr. expressed deep concern to Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum regarding why thousands of Indigenous peoples across the Americas have "stepped away" from the Baha'i Faith, noting a stark disparity between the "racial" prophecy in the Tablets of the Divine Plan and the reality of low Indigenous participation. Rúḥíyyih Khánum criticized the behavior of some Persian Baha'is at the Peigan Reservation, stating they were "totally lacking in either patience or respect" for the sacred Pipe Ceremony and showed no consideration for Indigenous feelings, conduct she deemed "very detrimental to the Faith". To change this approach, she urged the Baha'i community to stop trying to force Indigenous people into a rigid administrative framework and instead honor their customs and spiritual understanding of the "triangle" of God, man, and nature. She specifically suggested that elderly Persian Baha'is could be utilized as teachers by living on reservations and holding dawn prayer gatherings, drawing on their natural "oriental warmth" and "respect for the elders". Indian swami movements are mentioned as a warning because they are successfully attracting Indigenous people by filling a "spiritual vacuum" and recognizing their culture, tasks the Baha'is are failing to perform, thereby "missing the bus" on fulfilling 'Abdu'l-Bahá’s prophecy.

(Summary of communication between a Bahá'í of Canada and Rúhíyyih Khánum, 1986-10-28)

https://bahai-library.com/khanum_letter_canada_1986

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